According to Justin Trudeau, “We will continue to respect contracts signed because people around the world need to know that when Canada signs a deal it is respected.” That statement is odd and troubling on many different levels.

Does Mr. Trudeau believe himself to be Canada’s CEO or its head of government? Are we employees of Mr. Trudeau or are we citizen of this country? Is Mr. Trudeau our boss or our servant? Does Canada, as a political entity, sign commercial deals, or is it rather commercial enterprises within Canada that sign deals, and it is the government’s job to regulate those deals? Most importantly, perhaps: Is Canada a large commercial enterprise or a nation that calls itself a democracy?

A likely explanation of Mr. Trudeau’s statement is that he has a habit of improvising rationales that are at odds with rationality, such as his perplexing statements to the effect that Canada will use fossil fuel production to combat fossil-fuel-induced climate change.

Stephane Dion has turned into a quick study in the art of sophistical rhetoric and improvised rationales. On the subject of the Saudi arms sales, he says he had “reviewed the issue with ‘the utmost rigour’ and will continue to do so over the life of the 14-year deal.” It seems I have been under a false impression that his government had been elected for a four-year term.

Earlier, he had cleverly stated that the sale was justified because the Saudi government has promised not to use the armoured vehicles to suppress domestic dissent. Even if we were to believe the Saudi claim, what about the serious concern about the Saudi ruling family’s hobby of invading neighbouring countries and massacring their civilian populations? Do we need that blood on our hands?

Al Eslami, North York

Jobs worth killing for? Online video April 24

Full marks to Scott Vrooman for, like many other Canadians, pointing out the rank hypocrisy of Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government. Could there be a more blatant example of this than the Saudi Arms deal?

While our Prime Minister will happily show up at any photo op for a Pride Parade or similar event (as he should), he quite clearly has no problem selling arms to a regime that executes people for the crime of being gay. If he can’t see the hypocrisy of that, he’s a fool.

This government’s supposed fresh new approach (transparency and honesty and optimism) is looking more and more like a variation of the half truths and manipulated facts that contribute to many people’s default setting with politics and politicians: distrust and cynicism.

Another government Lorne ,that once elected, goes its own way, with its own agenda that does not include Canadian interests. Trudeau and Dion by green lighting the Saudi deal, have sent a clear message to Canadians of what their priorities are and will continue to be. The liberals will be supporting the interests of the corporate and power elite globally and US Imperialism. Bill C-51 will have some superficial ammendments, but will essentially remain intact. The same for the TPP. They have already started doing some things in secrecy, so we can expect more of the same. Human Rights and Canadian sovereignty are not part of the decision making with this government. Any government that can enter into an agreement with a country that literally murders its citizens by be-heading them simply for dissenting, is already morally bankrupt.Economics and politics does not trump morality.Trudeau is a pragmatist ethically, politically and philosophically. It is the path of least resistance. As a pragmatist most of his decisions are meant to satisfy those with economic interests. Also as a pragmatist Trudeau's decisions will satisfy the short term by sacrificing the long term. Appeasing American Imperialists by going ahead with the Saudi deal will be expected by the US again and again. In the future when asked to agree with other deals by the US, regardless of their threat to Canadian sovereignty, Trudeau will not suddenly introduce integrity into an already established process of appeasement. Neoliberalism 2.0. is Trudeau's idea of Canada's future.

Hi Lorne. First link in your post is wrong. This is also a very credible alternative assessment if you haven't already seen it : The Silent PartnerYes why does the US corp General Dynamics require the Canadian government to act as its cats paw?

I was pretty sure before Christmas that this Liberal government was all show and no go and said so on ipolitics. Whereupon I was roundly criticized for judging too quickly by the Liberal rah rah crowd. But the writing was on the wall, and the non-events since have proved my points. Utterly useless is Justin.

He cannot manage anything as a unified whole. We have cabinet ministers with pet ideas running rampant and unwilling to listen to dissenting voices.

Dion reacts like a spoiled child whose friends are trying to steal his candy when faced with questions. Freeland wrote about the over-reach of global corporations in the past, but supports the 2014 US coup and the installed neo-nazi ukrainian government, and has even bought her mother an apartment in Kiev, while deliberately misunderstanding ISDS in free trade pacts. Then stops by old friend and complete d*ckhead Netanyahu apologizer Bill Maher's TV show on the taxpayer dime.

Morneau after running a sham conference on CPP extension with the provinces, has appointed a who's who neoliberal advisory council to advise him on economic matters. Chaired by an accounting firm, the rest are as establishment as they come and purport to work for a $1 a year each. Sure.

Brison and Goodale have gone into hiding. McCallum wore himself out on the refugee file, but to his credit did us proud.

Native populations benefited from five minutes of JT's attention, but he went straight off to Washington to declare his undying fealty and put the F35 back on the table plus back the US's idiotic policies in the Middle East. There has been no movement on repealing the bullshit of C51, and a budget whose only significance was waffling on the numbers and an amateurish production at that.

Etcetera, etcetera. Just blah, blah, blah.

I pointed out that Martin suddenly appeared in the waning days of the campaign, and various clips will show him whispering in JT's ears when victory was apparent from Oct 14. Martin, who cut back on the funds for the native population 20 years ago, and limited increases to 2% a year, now runs CSL again, a billion dollar company and is pals with Power Corporation and the Desmarais clan. Neoliberal? Is water wet? To assuage his conscience he runs some foundation for native children or something. Cynic that I am, I think those whispers in JT's ears were just to let him know what's what.

And there you have it. Bumbling cabinet ministers, entrenched Cons running the Crown Corps and senior public servants seemingly bereft of knowledge or vision.

Meanwhile JT dances in the daisies giving selfies instead of managing things in an organized manner and we're all supposed to cheer. What a sham.

Sir, the usual disclaimers. I support no political party. None of them have earned my trust, not in the least.

Thanks for your always welcome comments, BM. While I don't claim for a moment to be disappointed that Harper got such a robust ousting in our last election, the fact that the lofty rhetoric and expectations established by Trudeau are now coming up against a much different reality is a source of increasing disenchantment for many. Your delineation of some of those realities provides solid reasons that we should be very wary of the cult-like status Trudeau has attained among too many people; idols are inevitably shown to have clay feet, a fact that is becoming increasingly apparent with our 'new' government.